Agriculture

Agriculture and technological gadgets rule the world. No agriculture, no food. No technological gadgets, no civilisation. Agriculture as the ancient of civilisation is on threshold competition with high-tech gadgets. Everywhere, Money! Money! Money, but none for 99% of world population of over 6 billion. Only 1% of world population control world wealth of over US$251 trillion. Of this wealth high-tech gadgets account for over 90%. Agricultural products remain the least priced, but remains the most essential. Yet, high tech gadgets take the whole earnings from agriculture and add to their own empire. In view of the fact that high tech money monguls, must also feed and be happy with agriculture, and not from gadgets; they need to invest in agriculture and feed a hungry world with just 1% of their fortune. Nevertheless, agriculture and high tech gadgets must live and let live for a better world.

Beekeeping is a very longstanding practice in the farming communities of the Tigray region and it plays a significant role as a source of additional cash income which is also an integral part in the smallholder farming system of the region. The overall objective of the study was to analyze honey marketing opportunities and challenges in the study area. A total of 135 beekeepers were proportionately and randomly selected from each study districts. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics using SPSS ver.16. According to the data analysis, the mean price of honey is birr 63.45 (September to November), 61.77 (December to February), 62.20 (March to May) and 59.69 (June to August) and most of the respondents (62.5%) sold their honey at district market while the rest sold at farm gate, kebelle market, other kebelles’/districts’ market and regional market. The honey marketing system of the study area has been reported to have faced with some challenging factors such as poor extension services related to honey marketing (96.6%), absence of local cooperatives that can activity participate in the honey marketing (89.8%), and limitation in participation of wholesalers and processors in the marketing system of honey are the main among the others. Despite these limitations, there are many opportunities for honey marketing in the study area; stable honey price, accesses to market information, access to nearby market and accesses to credit in relation to honey marketing, existence of good market infrastructure particularly, road and mobile networks, and presence of credit institutes such as Dedebit Credit and Saving Institution (DCSI) in the research location.

This study examines the medicinal uses and marketing of desert date in Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State. A total of one hundred marketers were randomly selected among the traders in the markets located in the study area. Information on the traditional uses of the plant was equally gathered from the respondents using a well structured questionnaire with personal interview. Eighty-eight (88%) of the total questionnaires were successfully utilized for the analysis. Economic tools such as Gross Margin (GM) and Marketing Efficiency (ME) were used to determine the profitability of Balanite aegyptiaca (desert date) marketing while the socio-economic characteristics of the traders and uses of the plant were analysed using simple descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage. The business is male-dominant and the uses of the plant are basically for medicinal purposes in the treatment of ailment such as schistosomiasis, dizziness/body weakness, stomach upset/pain, ulcer, and as food. Plant parts used include the leaf, root, seed and fruit. Gross Marketing Margin was calculated to be N140, 856.40, Net Marketing Margin was N137, 256.94 while the Marketing Efficiency (ME) was calculated to be 39.13%.

This study was performed to evaluation of salicylic acid and Paclobutrazol application on the growth characteristics of annual sports grass. The experiment was carried out as factorial in a completely randomized design that the first factor was salicylic acid levels (0, 100 and 200 ppm) and the second factor included paclobutrazol at four levels (0, 5, 15 and 30 mg per liter) with 3 replications. At the end of experiment some properties were determined such as RWC, Shoot fresh weight, Shoot dry weight, Root length, Membrane stability index. Totally, Means of all traits increased with increasing levels of salicylic acid from 100 to 200 ppm and highest means of RWC (92%), shoot fresh weight (9.7 grams per 5 cm), shoot dry weight (1.27 grams per 5 cm), root length (24.5 mm) and membrane stability index (84%) were obtained by treatment of 200 ppm. Also, paclobutrazol led to increasing of RWC but it led to reduction in other traits. Therefore, according to obtained results, application of 200 ppm salicylic acid and 30 ppm paclobutrazol recommended for sports grass planting

Today in water and soil sciences, many attentions have been arisen on Geostatistical methods to estimate spatial parameter using some data (kriging) or using auxiliary variables (cokriging). The quality of ground water for agriculture is very important, however its measurement is time consuming and expensive. Therefore, finding solution to estimate such parameters from easily measurable parameters is essential. In this study, two estimation models (spatial and regression models) were used to estimate SAR¹ and CL¹ in Tehran region using Geostatistic theory and spatial parameter concept. In this regard, ArcGIS software was used to estimate these parameters. Multi-parameter estimate of cokriging was applied using water salinity as an auxiliary variable. In addition, different estimation methods, cokriging, kriging and regression models, were compared and evaluated by RMSE statistic index. The results of this study showed that cokriging method with high correlations coefficient and with Gaussian Semivariogram is more precise than kriging and the selected regression models in estimating SAR and CL.

This study was performed to evaluation of vermicompost substrates on amount of organic carbon, total nitrogen and carbon to nitrogen ratio. in training and consulting center of the Flower and plant in the Tehran municipality, District 4. CRD design was selected for our study and treatments included: cattle manure (control), manure + leaves, manure + sawdust and paper with three replications. Eisenia Foetida was selected for study and to analyze the vermicompost, it was placed in semi-shade environment. At the end of vermicomposting process some chemical properties and nutrients were measured such as organic carbon, nitrogen, carbon than nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and initial moisture content, pH, Ec. All treatments had significant effects on studied properties and according to result it was founded that best treatment is manure + leave in compare to control and manure + sawdust and paper and according to Duncan test, there were significant differences between treatments in compare to control.

Bifid bacterium longum bb536 was prepared from Iranian developed collection of bacteria and fungi. The samples were cultured at 70 ° C and on the De-Man-Rogosa-Sharpe agar (MRSA) medium enriched with 0.5 grams per liter of L-cysteine (HCL and MRSA + cys), and then are incubated at 37 °C. This bacteria was microencapsulated and compared to non-encapsulated form under different population (ml cfu. 6E8, 6E7 and 6E6 and). The results showed that the encapsulated probiotics increased the viability of the bacteria in probiotic orange juice in comparison with their free form. The final numbers of probiotic bacteria in both free and encapsulated ones after twenty-five days of storage at 4 °C of orange juice were more than the minimum amount recommended for therapeutic effects on human health. During the storage phases, the results of colorimetric and Sensory evaluation of probiotic juice showed that encapsulate probiotic Bifidobacterium has a significant difference with not-capsulated one, where the capsulated one was better. Not-encapsulated probiotic significantly sowed a reduce pH in compare to the form of encapsulates bacteria. Bifidobacterium encapsulated form not only affecting physicochemical and sensory properties, did not improve the taste and increase shelf life of probiotic properties in compared with the free form during storage at 4 ° C for 25 days. Therefore, the use of alginate capsules / isolated whey can be a proper carrier for Bifidobacterium longum.

Understanding the response of the rocket crop to different source and salinity levels allows determining the type and level of salt that can be tolerable even where this factor is limiting. We evaluated the effect of different sources and levels of salinity sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl) in rocket. The trial was conducted in a greenhouse, throughout completely randomized design in a 2x6x11 factorial scheme, two salt sources (NaCl and KCl), six salinity levels (0, 0.5; 2.0, 3.5, 5.0 and 6.5 dS m-1) and eleven replications. KCl exceeded the NaCl and both did not affect the leaves immersion.

Pollution of ground water with heavy metals from industrial activities has caused a major threat to human life exposing man to series of diseases, crippling disability and death. This study was carried out to determine the concentration of heavy metals leaching into groundwater from the industrial activities and to assess their long term effect on life of the people and the resultant aquifer. The study was carried out at 10 different locations which are all located in Ikeja industrial areas. The water samples collected were subjected to physical, chemical, heavy metal and bacteriological analysis in order to determine their level of pollution. Samples were prepared according to the standard methods using atomic absorption spectrophotometry for heavy metals determination. The result of the analysis shows that heavy metals in water samples had an average pH mean value of 5.20 indicating the acidity of the water sampled, while the average electrical conductivity, temperature and total acidity of were 0.64µs/cm 29.70oC and 29.60 respectively. The average mean concentration of the chemical and heavy metals were 0.132 mg/l, 0.040 mg/l, 0.279 mg/l, 0.148 mg/l, 0.026 mg/l, 0.0055 mg/l, 0.00266 mg/l and 0.0097 mg/l for calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, cadmium, lead, and chromium respectively. The parameters analysed were at varying concentrations in the groundwater with parameters such as nitrate, phosphate, and pH exceeding the World Health Organization (W.H.O) standard, it was observed that the sample collected from Neimeth pharmaceuticals exceeded the permissible level for iron and lead having the value of 0.0391mg/l and 0.0627mg/l, while most of the water samples analysed falls within the permissible limit in accordance with the WHO standards. Adequate care must be taken for further prevention and handling of chemical discharges from industries. The need for the treatment of the groundwater and control of human activities in the area to prevent further contamination must also be put be in place.

Iron deficiency chlorosis is a common problem for sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) grown on iron deficient calcareous soils. Iron is essential for chlorophyll synthesis and any deficiencies may hinder photosynthetic capabilities of the plant that may result in yield loss. Cultivar selection and/or proper management may reduce yield loss. The objective of this investigation was to identify the cultivars and determine the effect of ameliorative treatment for controlling iron deficiency chlorosis in sugarcane in Tamilnadu, India. A field experiment was conducted for fifteen sugarcane varieties with two treatments (control and amelioration). The leaf greenness was evaluated for chlorosis by SPAD chlorophyll meter readings and also using acetone extraction method. The metabolically active iron content of leaf was analysed by 1,10-orthophenanthroline extract. The ameliorated treatment was consistently better at reducing iron chlorosis scores and yield loss. The resistant genotypes had significantly lower chlorosis scores compared to the susceptible varieties. Iron deficiency chlorosis was adequately controlled by amelioration treatment and/or using resistant genotypes may be the more effective treatment for yield improvement.